Smoker&#39;s combination apparatus



Oct 942. c. B. GRADY I SMO KERS COMBINATION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Shet 1 ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 13, 1942. c. B. GRADY ,3

SMOKER'S COMBINATION APPARATUS Filed Dec 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C if f m 5 s I I 5 v V 4, Z a I) "I? L I 2 ii '41 E I 44 I U ,3 07 I A 7;.I"7; ?.3=: 43 42 ,33 v '36 H II I E 7 INVENTOR:

Patented Oct. 13, 1942 I TE D STATE S PATENE hi 5 SMOKERS. COMBINATION APPARATUS Charles B. Grady, Sky Top, Pa. Application December 15, 1939, Serial No. 309,440

3 Claims.

cheaply manufactured, and will present both interest and. attraction in itsuse and appearance.

Aparticular object of the. invention, is to providea combination apparatus having one or more or all of; the following facilities, operations and conveniences; to embody an advantageous rest or. support upon which to lay the cigaret during and after smoking; to provide an improved re-v cei ver for the ashes, in the nature of a small portable receptacle or box which either may be open or. adaptedjto be closed by a lid; to combine therewith a convenient means of extinguishing a cigaret or its butt; todispose of or divert the sfnoke. from a cigaret or butt resting on the receiver thereby to eliminate annoyance; and to provide an apparatus haying oneor more of these functions. in combination with utility as a lamp, whichfterm intended to include av lantern or other illuminated casing, column or shade.

' In respect to the receiving of cigarets and ashes the, portable appliance hereof is safe, saniare; and easy to clean; the cigaret. on its rest canjburn away safely to ashes, and by easy ma nipulation theashes and any short remnants of butts can be disposedof and put out of sight.

With. these advantages is combined; the action ofsrnoke disposal by the aid of a, casing or lamp portion containing a smoke duct with its discharge directed from the user.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention, will, be explained in the hereinafter following description of practical embodiments of the invention or will be understood by those conversant with the subject. To the attainment of such objects and advantages the present invention consists in the novel smokers apparatus, and the novel features of operation, combination, arrangement and construction herein illustrated or described.

Inthe accompanying drawings Fig. l is aperspective view of a complete apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention, and showing the combination of thelamp. or casing features with the receiver or appliance features.

2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown,

in Fig. l with the lamp casing. partly broken a y.

Figs. 3,a-n d 4 are two similar longitudinal ver-. tical section views of the portable appliance or receiver of Figs. 1 and 2, respectively showing the same manually tilted in two directions to dispose of accumulating ashes.

Fig. 5 is a central vertical sectional view of the complete apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but with, the receiver portion having been shifted to a position within the lamp or casing portion.

Fig. 6 is a transverse Vertical section view of the receiver shown in Figs. 1' to 5', but with the removable shelf or tray portion separated upwardly from the box portion of the receiver.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of. a receiver of a. modified form, having a hinged lid or cover, shown open, and with snuiling or extinguishing means.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal. vertical section view of the receiver of Fig. '7, showing the lid closed and the cigaret extinguished; with a modification in the tray-supporting ledge.

The apparatus in its most complete form comprises thereceiver or portable appliance I l adapted to receive and hold cigaret and ashes, and

the lamp or casing I2, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 as a table lamp but which might be redesigned to stand on a floor. The structures of these cooperating elements, the lamp and the receiver, will be separately described in detail. In various figures are shown a cigaret C (intended to include a cigar), or its butt B, and the ashes A thereof, and the path. of smoke S during disposal. 8 shows also a special snufling means in the form of an extinguishing powder E, into which the. lighted end of a cigaret or butt maybe plunged for extinguishing it; this powder being preferably a chemical, such as baking soda, which it is found tends. under heat to generate an extinguishing gas; and with this powder may be combined a suitable agent to neutralize the odor-0f tobacco tar or to perfume the surrounding atmosphere.

Describing first for convenience the lamp or casing I2, this is shown as comprising a hollow column [4, which may be the column of a lamp, and, is shown. of square contour. Through a pane or other transparent or translucent wall or shade 55 light may pass from an interior light or bulb l6, shown inserted in a light socket I! suitably positioned by mounting I 8 within the casing. The circuits are not shown, but a switch 19 is indicated for illuminating or turning off the lamp.

The hollow lampcasing or column l4 operates as a stack to accommodate or aiford a draft to carry away the smoke S, and a rising or natural draft is indicated as preferable. Preferably also the column is closed at the top, by the Wall or cover 2|, and the circulation is through a draft entrance 22 near the bottom front of the casing, thence upwardly, and out by a rear smoke exit 23. The base or bottom wall of the casing is extended frontwardly at 25 forming a level support or shelf to accommodate the receiver II, which may be placed between edge flanges 26 of the extension 25, so that the receiver can be either located frontward of the casing while in active use, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or thrust inwardly as shown in Fig. to bring the cigaret butt within the Walls of the casing. In either position of the receiver the rising draft in the casing tends to suck upwardly the smoke and discharge it rearwardly near the top of the apparatus and therefore away from the smokers face.

Referring next to the portable receiver II, this consists mainly of a box 30, with side, end and bottom walls. It may be open at the top, but as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, may have a cover or hinged lid 3| adapted to stand upright and thereby serve as a screen or smoke baflle when open.

Within the receiver box is shown a tray 32, in the nature of a shelf, positioned at an intermediate height well above the box bottom. The tray is shown as consisting of a floor 33 and side flanges 34, the entire tray being preferably removably supported within the box, for example upon side ledges 35, thus giving access for cleaning the box and tray. The tray or shelf, by receiving hot ashes and butt ends, keeps them above the box floor until cool, thus protecting the supporting table from injury by heat conduction through the box floor.

A characteristic feature is that the midshelf or tray 32 is somewhat shorter than the box, thus providing a descending passage 36, preferably at one end only, by which, at will, ashes 0n the tray may be delivered downwardly to be received in an underneath compartment 31 concealed below the tray. If desired the ledges 35 may be formed at their ends with small upstanding projections 38 adapted to confine the inserted tray against endwise sliding within the outer box 30.

To the extent thus described the appliance II serves as an ash receiver. To constitute the box a receiver for cigarets or butts, it is provided with a rest 49 in the nature of an open support, preferably composed of cross bars or wires 4|, which are preferably mounted on the tray side flanges 34 at a substantial height above the tray floor, but somewhat below the level of the box top edges. In describing the cigaret rest 40 as composed of cross wires or bars 41, these terms are intended to cover any thin members extending across, in spaced-apart relation, bridging the interior of the box from side to side. The spaced bars or wires 4| therefore constitute an eifective support for a cigaret or butt, holding it suspended in the surrounding air where it may effectively burn out to ashes, while the tray bottom prevents any hot material from descending into contact with the box bottom. It will be noted that the rest wires 4| are preferably bowed downwardly, with a sagging contour, thereby better to hold a cigaret against accidental displacement, or blowing off the rest; and there is a clear space between the wires and tray bottom.

A particular spacing of the cigaret rest bars or wires 4| is shown, wherein a main group of wires has a fairly close spacing, to hold either a cigaret or short butt above the tray, but with another group, of one or more wires 42, spaced sufiflciently away from the others to afford a finger space 43, leaving a gap in which the fingers may reach down for picking up a cigaret from the rest; the main group being spaced too closely to admit conveniently the fingers.

As a means of extinguishing a cigaret or butt laid upon the rest 40 there is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 a snufling member in the form of blade or cutter 44, mounted within the box lid 3| in such position that the blade will chop or out 01f the lighted extremity of the cigaret, properly placed upon the cross wires, in the act of closing the box. In order to hold the cigaret down for this extinguishing operation the lid is shown provided also with a guard member 45 which comes down upon the cigaret, for example between the extreme two wires, and clamps it against tilting during the snufiing action, While the blade descends closely adjacent to the extreme Wire.

The operation of the described structure has been indicated, and may be further explained as follows, showing that the objects and advantages first recited are afforded. The box 30 with tray 32, arranged as described, constitute the novel ash receiver, the addition of the thin bars or rest wires 4| rendering it available also as a cigaret or butt receiver. A lighted cigaret laid upon the cross wires, constituting a rest, is suspended in air and readily burns out.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the mode of disposal of ashes unduly accumulated on the tray. By picking up the receiver box and tilting it leftward the ashes are dumped from the tray through the passage 36 on to the floor of the box, as shown in Fig. 3, so that, by next reversely tilting the receiver, as shown in Fig. 4, the ashes may be caused to slide along into the concealed compartment 37, disappearing from sight. The tray is now empty and ready for further use.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is especially adapted for travel use since it may be tightly closed by its cover before packing away, thus preventing ashes and other contents from sifting out to the damage of other property.

The several described embodiments are well adapted for use in air conditioned enclosures wherein an excess air pressure is maintained. In such case the smoke from burning butts may be directed to openings or ducts which lead from the enclosure, the outgoing air stream carrying away the smoke.

The described extinguishing device 44, 45 may be dispensed with since a cigaret butt may be snuffed out in other ways, for example by rubbing it against the rest wires 4| or upon the bottom of the tray or the box, or inserting it in the snuiring powder E.

The lamp and receiver elements described may be constructed of various materials, preferably of attractive finish or color. Sheet metal may be used, suitably finished, and with reflecting color and polish inside to promote illumination. Nonmetallic materials may be used, as plastic or other compositions, with the lamp and receiver preferably matching in color. For a particularly inexpensive receiver, of the character shown, without lid and with or without tray, the walls may be composed of metal-coated cardboard, for example with a bright aluminum finish; so cheap to manufacture is such a receiver for cigarets and ashe that it would be practical to discard each receiver after a very few uses, making it available as a premium to be given away with a purchase of cigarets or cigars.

There has thus been described a smokers combination apparatus embodying the features of the present invention, both in relation to the complete combination of lamp or casing portion with receiver portion and as regards the features of each of said portions; and since many matters of operation,-combination, arrangement and construction may be variously modified without departing from the principles hereof, it is not intended to limit the invention to such matters except to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A light and portable cigaret and ash receiver comprising in combination, an oblong, freely portable and manually tiltable open-top box member adapted to be placed on a table and having a closed bottom and walls surrounding and closing the two sides and two ends; and a separate upwardly-removable interior oblong shallow tray member set down into position enclosed wholly within the box and substantially shorter than the interior length of the box and comprising a closed floor and upstanding side extensions and mounted permanently thereon in spaced relation elevated slightly above the tray floor, a cigaret rest consisting of spaced-apart cross-bars to support horizontally a cigaret suspended in air, the tray member being open-ended and having its floor smooth for the easy-sliding of ashes and butts endwise therealong towards and past the open end thereof; said box and tray members being mutually formed for the loose interior support of the tray member against longitudinal sliding in the box and with its floor at a predetermined elevation substantially below above the bottom of the box thereby to leave a concealed but accessible receiving compartment between the box bottom and tray floor, whereby the tray may be bodily lifted out from and set back down into its interior position between the box end walls or replaced by a new tray within the box at will, thus facilitating thorough access and cleaning of both portable box and removable tray; and the relative shortness of the tray within the box leaving at one end a downward ash passage of substantial length and Width between one end edge of the tray floor and an end Wall of the box, whereby at will the entire receiver may be manually reversely tilted to cause the transfer of accumulated ashes and butts from the tray floor through the downward passage into the concealed compartment between tray floor and box bottom.

2. A cigaret and ash receiver comprising a portable open-top and flat bottom box, said box containing a cigaret rest comprising bars spaced apart upon which a cigaret may rest near the top level of the box, and a cover hinged to the box for opening and closing the same; together with means operated by the closing of the lid for snufling a lighted cigaret or butt on said rest, comprising a cutter mounted in the lid in a position to descend adjacent to a rest bar thereby to remove the burning end of the cigaret, and a guard member operated by the descent of the lid to clamp down a cigaret between two rest bars.

3. A receiver as in claim 1 and wherein is a tray comprising a horizontal floor shorter than and located within the box and spaced between the box bottom and the cigaret rest in a position end, whereby the latter at will can be caused to descend from the tray floor to the box bottom beneath.

CHARLES B. GRADY. 

